Officials with North West College say they are grateful to Tolko Industries Ltd. for donating a forklift to its Meadow Lake campus. The forklift was presented to the college Sept. 29 and will give students hands-on experience with the same kind of equipment they can expect to use in industry. The forklift will support students in the heavy equipment truck and transport technician program, giving them a real machine to learn on in the shop. It will also be used for forklift operator training, helping learners build the practical skills local employers are looking for. 

“This donation is much more than a piece of equipment,” said North West College business development coordinator Roxanne Henry. “It is an investment in the education, safety and future careers of our students. Partnerships like this help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry experience. By giving our students access to industry-standard equipment, Tolko Industries is helping to prepare the next generation of skilled workers in our region.” The donation builds on a growing partnership between Tolko Industries and North West College in Meadow Lake. In August, the two organizations launched the mill operations and safety essentials onboarding program, a custom suite of safety training courses for new Tolko Industries employees that includes forklift training. Tolko Industries also supports the Meadow Lake campus students through two $1,000 completion scholarships for graduates of the college’s trades programs. 

North West College continues to work with local industry to give students access to the tools, training and experience they Tolko donates forklift to North West College in Meadow Lake need to start their careers close to home. Businesses interested in partnering with the college on equipment, training, or student support are encouraged to reach out. For more information on partnership opportunities, contact Roxanne Henry at business.development@northwestcollege.ca. 

North West College operates two primary campuses and 21 learning centres throughout the northwest region of the province. Responding to the needs of students and local industry, for more than four decades, North West College has delivered training and services to facilitate growth in the communities it serves. The college offers programs in trades, health and community services, academic upgrading and university transfers. It has campuses in North Battleford and Meadow Lake and provides programming for 30 communities, including 20 First Nations communities, spread over 44,000 square kilometres.